Nicola Sturgeon was challenged to stop her 'sabre rattling' in Hollyrood

The First Minister insisted MSPs will have a ballot on invoking Article 50 regardless of what the UK’s most senior judges say on the matter.

The Supreme Court will tomorrow rule on whether Theresa May needs MPs and peers approval to start divorce talks with Brussels.

It will also decide on whether the Scottish Parliament and other devolved legislatures can have a say over the Lisbon treaty “exit clause”.

Ms Sturgeon today repeated her gloomy predictions of “devastating” economic consequences of the Prime Minister’s plan to leave the EU’s single market.

She also accused Mrs May of having “her fingers in her ears” after indicating she will reject SNP demands for a bespoke deal for Scotland.

But the Scottish Conservatives hit out at the Nationalist’s “moaning” since last June’s referendum and stoking divisions as part a new bid to break-up Britain.

Adam Tomkins, the Tory’s constitution spokesman, said: “It is clear that the greatest threat to economic growth in Scotland now is not Brexit, but the First Minister’s ongoing sabre-rattling about a second independence referendum which a large majority of Scots clearly do not want.

“This is yet more evidence of her using Brexit purely to move her separation goals forward.”

He also insisted SNP “scaremongering” was undermined by Mrs May’s commitment to protect worker’s rights and seek the “freest possible trade” after Brexit.

It is clear that the greatest threat to economic growth in Scotland now is not Brexit

Adam Tomkins, Conservative

Ms Sturgeon last week said that a rerun of the 2014 poll was “looming” in the wake of Mrs May’s 12-point Brexit plan which is at odds with her proposals to keep Scotland in the single market and grant Holyrood more powers over immigration and trade.

Writing in the Daily Record yesterday [MON] Ms Sturgeon said: “It’s getting hard not to feel like the PM has her fingers in her ears when it comes to Scotland.

“This isn’t some academic debate – removing us from the largest single market in the world would be devastating for people’s jobs and living standards. But that seems to be of little concern to the Tories.”

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Scotland

It came as the First Minister promised a vote over triggering Brexit

She added: “No matter what the court decides, I want to make this crystal clear – I intend to make sure the Scottish Parliament has the chance to vote on the question of triggering Article 50.

“If the UK Government don’t start showing Scotland some respect, I’ll make sure that people across Scotland have the chance to choose our own future before the Tories drag us off an economic cliff-edge.”

Her comments come after her Brexit Minister Mike Russell said on Sunday the SNP’s 54 MPs would vote against triggering Article 50 in a Westminster vote.

They are also preparing amendments to any Bill to soften a so-called “hard Brexit” or slow the process down.

The SNP administration has accepted that Holyrood does not have a “veto” but has argued MSPs should get a say under the “Sewel convention”.

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This states that Westminster should not legislate on devolved matters without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.

Even if it loses at the Supreme Court, there is nothing to stop MSPs from expressing their will in a symbolic ballot.

Under either scenario the UK Government can ignore the vote, but it would be used as ammunition by the SNP in a constitutional showdown.

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The Supreme Court will tomorrow rule on whether Theresa May needs MPs and peers approval for Brexit

The SNP will be able to rely on the Greens for support.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said his party would also vote against triggering Article 50 unless a further referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal was guaranteed.

Asked about Scottish Labour’s position a spokesman said: “This is currently a legal question, rather than a political one.

“Until we know the Supreme Court judgement no one, including Nicola Sturgeon, knows what a vote in Holyrood would mean for the Brexit process.”